Miqati Describes Latest U.N. Statement on Syria as 'Constructive'

Prime Minister Najib Miqati welcomed on Friday a U.N. Security Council statement which underscored its grave concern at the arms trafficking and repeated weapons fire across the Lebanon-Syria border.

It is a “constructive statement” and “we all agree on,” Miqati said following talks with Speaker Nabih Berri in Ain el-Tineh.

He described his meeting with Berri as “good,” saying they discussed the latest developments.

The Security Council expressed on Thursday grave concern at repeated incidents of cross-border fire which has killed and injured Lebanese civilians, as well as incursions, abductions and arms trafficking across the border.

The council expressed deep concern "at the impact of the Syrian crisis on Lebanon's stability" and called on all parties to respect Lebanon's "policy of disassociation and to refrain from any involvement in the Syrian crisis."

It appealed to all Lebanese to preserve national unity in the face of attempts to undermine the country's stability and refrain from any involvement in the two-year-old Syrian conflict.

The statement followed a closed-door meeting in which the Council was briefed by the U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Derek Plumbly, on the Secretary-General’s latest report on the implementation of resolution 1701.

The council expressed deep concern "at the impact of the Syrian crisis on Lebanon's stability............
Yes the Syrian crisis can and will impact Lebanon's stability but such impact is dwarfed by that of our internal divisions, foreign allegiances and the spread of arms within our so called political parties and clans and groups.